Savings and Development Dialogue Ghana (SDD Ghana), a non-governmental organization working to create opportunities and enhance inclusion for all people facing barriers, has launched a Social Inclusion and Accountability Project in the Tolon District of the Northern Region.

The project which is funded by the STAR Ghana Foundation is using volunteers to deepen knowledge and awareness of Ghana’s Local Governance system among school pupils.

The volunteers who are leading the work are drawn from elected Assembly members, Nurses, Teachers and Youth Activists.

Launching the project, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and MP for Binduri, Hon Abanga Abdulai, commended SDD Ghana for the foresight, and the STAR Ghana Foundation for the technical and financial support.

In a speech read on his behalf by the District Chief Executive of Tolon, Hon Fusheini Salifu Issifu Moshie, the Minister noted that the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) provides a comprehensive framework on all matters concerning local governance, decentralisation and rural development. “It is important to stress that real development starts at the local level.

This development is accelerated with the active participation of the grassroots.”, he stressed. He expressed concern that grassroots development is unlikely to happen when citizens are not aware of the fine details of how local governance works, to give meaning to the provisions and objects of the Act.

He continued, “It is therefore heartwarming that your project is taking on the often-taken-for-granted issues, by seeking to disseminate information and building knowledge. Even reassuring is the fact that you are doing this with school children.

Apart from ensuring that young people acquire these essential skills early on in life to prepare them for active citizenship, school children can be important conveyers of messages to adults at home and in the community. I am also excited that this project exclusively uses volunteers, underscoring the need for development agencies to harness all known resources for national development.”

The Minister added that the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development will support the work of like-minded agencies to enhance decentralization and rural development:

“Our Ministry will support the work of all agencies seeking to contribute to decentralisation and rural development in the country. We are ready to partner with like-minded agencies to ensure that the benefits of local governance reach everybody and all parts of the country.

"Let me also use this opportunity to call on individuals and professionals to contribute to the active citizenship philosophy by volunteering their time and expertise to various aspects of national development. Together we can build a more prosperous and inclusive Ghana.”

The Board Chairman of SDD Ghana, Dr Sadat Salifu noted that even though the current Local Governance Act traces its ancestry to the 1988 Local Government Act, it is still quite common for citizens to conflate the roles of the District Assembly and the Parliamentary system, with the far more visible parliamentary system appearing to overshadow the workings of the District Assembly, even though the Assembly system has considerably more reach, resources and importantly, the mandate to champion development at the local level.

“Perhaps the colourful electioneering campaigns and fanfare that accompany the election of the MPs is the reason.”, he proposed. Dr Salifu indicated that under this project, SDD has selected civic-minded citizens of the communities who will function as “governance coaches” voluntarily, guiding 47 JHS students.

The Governance Coaches have thus been taken through comprehensive training in ACT 936, the legal framework that undergirds the Local Assembly system in Ghana.

The Governance Coaches will guide the students to mimic the workings of the district assembly as a deliberative body that champions local development. In commending the STAR-Ghana Foundation for supporting the initiative, Dr Salifu acknowledged the STAR-Ghana Foundation's pivotal leadership role in creating innovative partnerships to address the challenges confronting the country.

The Board Chair reiterated SDD Ghana's commitment to investing in the youth, which he is confident is the key to building a brighter future for Ghana. “By empowering the youth with knowledge and skills through this project, we are confident that they will grow into responsible and engaged citizens, ready to contribute to the development of their communities and the nation as a whole”, he added.

The Executive Director of SDD Ghana, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Nandom gave an overview of the project and highlighted the fact that apart from deepening knowledge on local governance, it is also more about promoting active citizenship by drawing on the expertise and time of professionals from diverse backgrounds voluntarily.

The launch was chaired by the Executive Director of RAINS, Mr Hardi Tijani.

Mr Tijani commended SDD Ghana and STAR-Ghana for the initiative and called on young people and other professionals to devote their time to volunteering for good causes, as a means of contributing to active citizenship and also gaining the necessary skills and exposure to tackle other assignments.

The launch was attended by traditional rulers, District education officers, school pupils and other CSOs.